THE AMERICAN FLAG IS A SOURCE OF PRIDE AND INSPIRATION …. FOR ME. A REMINDER TO APPRECIATE WHAT I HAVE HERE IN AMERICA …. I GREW UP ADMIRING THE FLAG …. WE WERE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL THAT BETSY ROSS SEWED THE FIRST FLAG …. HOWEVER IN MY SEARCH …. I DISCOVERED THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO LETTERS, NO DIARY ENTRIES, NO NEWSPAPER STORIES, NO EVIDENCE THAT SHE WAS IN ANY WAY INVOLVED IN MAKING THE FLAG …. I WONDER WHO MADE IT?

I READ THAT THE FIRST FLAG IN 1777 HAD 13 STRIPES AND 13 STARS TO REPRESENT THE FIRST COLONIES …. THEN AS STATES WERE ADDED, MORE STARS WERE ADDED …. BUT BECAUSE OUR COUNTRY CONTINUED TO GROW …. THE 13 STRIPES REMAINED AS MORE AND MORE STARS WERE ADDED WHICH NOW TOTAL 50. THE COLORS OF THE FLAG …. RED, STANDS FOR HARDINESS AND VALOR …. THE WHITE, FOR PURITY …. AND THE BLUE, FOR VIGILANCE AND JUSTICE.

IN 1949, THRU AN ACT OF CONGRESS, PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN PROCLAIMED AND ESTABLISHED JUNE 14 AS NATIONAL FLAG DAY …. BUT WE NEED NOT WAIT TIL JUNE 14 TO DISPLAY THE FLAG …. LET IT WAVE EACH AND EVERY DAY AND FEEL PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

EACH HOUSE WHERE I HAVE EVER LIVED …. HAS HAD AT LEAST A 3 FT FLAG FLYING …. AND USUALLY, MY HOUSE WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THAT STREET WITH A FLAG …. MANY OF THEM WOULD WEAR OUT …. AND I LEARNED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO THAT YOU NEVER TOSS AN OLD FLAG IN THE TRASH …. RATHER I WAS TOLD TO DROP IT OFF AT A FIRE STATION TO BE PROPERLY DISPOSED OF IN A DIGNIFIED MANNER …. IN FACT THERE IS USUALLY A BOX IN FRONT OF THE STATION HOUSE THAT SAYS “FLAG DISPOSAL” …. VERY CONVENIENT AND RESPECTFUL.

I MUST TELL YOU …. THAT IN THE 40 YEARS OF FULL TIME MINISTRY …. WITH MY TRAVELS TO 52 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD …. I HAVE ALWAYS CARRIED A SMALL AMERICAN FLAG WITH ME …. AND WHEN I AM DRIVING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY AND PASS THE AMERICAN EMBASSY …. WHERE I SEE “OLD GLORY” WAVING …. I ALWAYS START TO CRY …. I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN CHRISTIAN! HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS SPECIAL VIDEO.

PSALMS 33:12 ~ BLESSED [FORTUNATE, PROSPEROUS, AND FAVORED BY GOD] IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD, THE PEOPLE WHOM HE HAS CHOSEN AS HIS OWN INHERITANCE.

ROBIN WILLIAMS AND THE FLAG

I AM PART OF AN EARLY MORNING PRAYER LINE CALL GROUP …. WE FERVENTLY AND FAITHFULLY PRAY FOR OUR AMERICA, OUR PRESIDENT, ALL THOSE IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND ALL OF THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH STATE WHO MAKE OUR LAWS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS PROCLAIMED OFTEN ON THE PRAYER LINE, IS THAT FOR THE CHRISTIAN, WE BELIEVE WHAT THE FLAG TO US REPRESENTS. THE STARS REPRESENT THE COVENANT GOD PROMISED TO ABRAHAM …. WE ARE THE SEED OF THAT COVENANT. RED REMINDS US OF JESUS’ BLOOD THAT WAS SHED WHEN HE DIED ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS. THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS, “WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS.” (HEBREWS 9:22) …. WHITE REMINDS US THAT WHEN WE GIVE OUR HEART TO JESUS, HE WASHES US AND WE BECOME AS “WHITE AS SNOW.” (ISAIAH 1:18) THE BIBLE SAYS, “YOU WERE WASHED, YOU WERE SANCTIFIED, YOU WERE JUSTIFIED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.” (1 CORINTHIANS 6:10) …. BLUE REMINDS US OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST AND WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND MAKE US CLEAN.” (1 JOHN 1:9) GOD IS FAITHFUL TO KEEP HIS PROMISES. RED, WHITE, AND BLUE; YES, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR GREAT COUNTRY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR OUR GREAT SAVIOR, JESUS.

THIS HAS BEEN, WAS IS REFERRED TO AS …. “JUNE GLOOM” …. MEANING THE MORNING SEEMS TO BE OVERCAST AND USUALLY ABOUT NOON, THE SUN WILL COME OUT …. THEN IT IS STILL NOT AS WARM AS IT COULD BE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR …. BUT WE LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT 🙂

I THOT I HAD THE ENTIRE MONTH OFF …. (MEANING NO MINISTRY) …. BUT I WAS ASKED TO COME SING ON FATHERS’ DAY …. AND I LOVED IT! …. A GOOD CHURCH! …. PASTOR TONY HAD AN INCREDIBLE MESSAGE …. ENCOURAGING FATHERS TO LET THEIR CHILDREN SEE “FATHER GOD” IN THEIR LIVES. A POWERFUL WORD! MY DAD PASSED AWAY WHEN I WAS JUST A 12 YEAR OLD GIRL …. THE TIME WHEN A GIRL NEEDS A DAD! ….

MS. LILLIE’S DAD, GOVENOR KNAULS

SO MY FAVORITE SONG BECAME ….

“I TRUST IN GOD …. I KNOW HE CARES FOR ME ….

ON MOUNTAINS BLEAK OR ON THE STORMY SEA…..

THO BILLOWS ROLL, HE KEEPS MY SOUL…..

MY HEAVENLY FATHER WATCHES OVER ME.”

AND HE CERTAINLY HAS …. AND ALWAYS WILL! …. MY EARTHLY FATHER WAS CALLED HOME TO HEAVEN …. BUT GOD PROMISED HE WOULD “NEVER LEAVE ME NOR FORSAKE ME.”

ISAIAH 63:16 ~ LORD YOU WILL STILL BE MY FATHER …. YOU ARE MY REDEEMER FROM AGES PAST.

I DID GET AN EXTENSION ON MY INCOME TAX …. SO I AM MORE THAN HALF WAY THRU THAT HUGE JOB …. I SAY EVERY YEAR THAT I WILL TRY AT THE END OF EACH MONTH TO “TAKE CARE OF THAT MONTH” …. BUT IT DOESN’T SEEM TO HAPPEN …. WHY OH WHY? …. 🙂 …. WELL, IT COULD BE BECAUSE I AM SOOO BUSY …. REMEMBER, I DO NOT HAVE A SEC’Y, I MUST DO EVERYTHING REGARDING THE MINISTRY …. BUT THANK GOD, THAT AT AGE 80, I AM STILL BEING ASKED TO COME AND MINISTER 🙂 SO THAT’S GOOD!

BY THE WAY, SPEAKING OF ME STILL MINISTERING …. I WOULD LOVE TO COME TO YOUR SENIOR GROUP, LADIES LUNCHEON OR YOUR CHURCH …. WE WILL HAVE A GREAT TIME! …. JESUS WILL BE LIFTED UP AND GOD GLORIFIED. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED AND YES! YOU CAN AFFORD ME …. 🙂 …. SO AS YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AT YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE FALL AND THE HOLIDAYS …. CALL ME 909-948-2448 …. AND WE CAN TALK!

IT WAS TIME FOR ANOTHER “DEEP CLEANING” FROM MY DENTAL OFFICE …. OH, I SO DREAD THAT VISIT …. BUT IS THERE ANY ONE WHO LIKES TO GO TO THE DENTIST …. PROBABLY NOT! …. 🙂

I HAVE SOME EXCITING TIMES OF MINISTRY COMING UP THAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO …. SO KEEP UP WITH MY “TOUR SCHEDULE” ON MY WEBSITE …. MISSLILLIE.COM …. AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE I’LL BE …. I MIGHT BE IN YOUR AREA …. IF SO PLEASE COME SEE ME …. 🙂

OVER 40 YEARS AGO, GOD GAVE ME AN “ASSIGNMENT” TO CARRY THE GOOD NEWS THRU SONG WHEREVER HE OPENS A DOOR …. AND THAT IS WHAT I HAVE DONE! …. AND AM STILL DOING IT! …. AND LOVIN’ IT! I MUST THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO HELP ME “GO” TELL FOLK HOW THEY ARE LOVED BY GOD. I AM ASKED OFTEN ‘WHEN ARE YOU RETIRING?” …. MY ANSWER IS THERE IS NO RETIREMENT IN GOD’S KINGDOM …. 🙂 …. SURE, OFTEN OUR PLACES/TYPES OF MINISTRY CHANGES, BUT THE COMMAND FROM GOD IS STILL THERE …. AND I LOVE TO TELL SENIORS AS I SPEAK …. “IF YOU’RE NOT DEAD …. YOU’RE NOT DONE” I THINK THAT SAYS IT ALL …. 🙂

PSALMS 71:18 ~ AND EVEN WHEN I AM OLD AND GRAY-HEADED, O GOD, DO NOT ABANDON ME, UNTIL I DECLARE YOUR [MIGHTY] STRENGTH TO THIS GENERATION, YOUR POWER TO ALL WHO ARE TO COME.

SO, THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT BOTH PRAYFULLY AND FINANCIALLY …. BELIEVE ME, I CAN NOT MAKE IT WITHOUT THEM. THANKS SOOO MUCH FOR COMING ALONGSIDE ME AS I SHARE CHRIST IN MY MUSIC AND SPOKEN WORDS …. (WHICH DOES NOT RETURN EMPTY) …. YOU WILL RECEIVE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE RECEIPT FOR WHATEVER YOU GIVE …. AND A REWARD IN HEAVEN …. 🙂

ISAIAH 55:11 ~ SO WILL MY WORD BE WHICH GOES OUT OF MY MOUTH; IT WILL NOT RETURN TO ME VOID (USELESS, WITHOUT RESULT), WITHOUT ACCOMPLISHING WHAT I DESIRE, AND WITHOUT SUCCEEDING IN THE MATTER FOR WHICH I SENT IT.

THERE ARE TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES EACH AND EVERY DAY SOME OF US ARE FACING …. BUT WE MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD IS THE GIVER OF ALL THAT WE NEED AS WE FACE DIFFICULTIES …. HE IS THE ONE WHO GIVES US JOY WHEN WE ARE SAD …. PEACE WHEN WE ARE STRESSED AND STRUGGLING …. AND STRENGTH TO THE WEAK, WHEN WE THINK WE CAN’T GO ON …. WE ARE ASKED TO STAND FIRM AND HAVE COURAGE …. AND TRUST THE ONE WHO OFFERS US HIS UNCHANGING HAND …. AND PROMISES.

THERE WAS MUCH EXCITEMENT IN MY LIFE FOLLOWING MY BIG 80TH B’DAY LUAU …. WHAT A DAY! HAVING 125 FRIENDS COME TO HELP ME CELEBRATE MY “ENTRANCE INTO THIS NEXT DECADE” AS WELL AS 40 YEARS OF FULL-TIME MINISTRY. 🙂 IT WAS VERY SPECIAL TO HAVE SO MANY OF MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY PRESENT FOR THE LUAU …. ESPECIALLY, MY ONLY BROTHER PAUL …. AND SISTER GLADINE. WHAT A WHIRLWIND I HAVE EXPERIENCED SINCE THEN …. THE LUAU WAS SUNDAY, APRIL 29 …. I HAD 2 DAYS TO “WRAP UP” THINGS …. AND PACK FOR MY TIME OF MINISTRY AT THE WESTCOAST QUARTET CONVENTION (FANFEST) …. (DO I LOOK LIKE A QUARTET?) 🙂 IT IS HELD EACH YEAR IN VISALIA, CA …. (4 HOURS FROM MY HOUSE) …. I HAVE A LONGTIME FRIEND WHO SAID I COULD RIDE UP WITH HER …. I WAS SOOO HAPPY TO DO THAT, AS IT WOULD GIVE ME TIME TO OPEN THE 130 B’DAY CARDS I RECEIVED …. NORMALLY, I NEVER, EVER OPEN A B’DAY CARD I RECEIVE …. TIL THE ACTUAL B’DAY) …. I LOVE DOING THAT! …. AS I AM ABLE TO RELAX, READ CAREFULLY EACH CARD …. CRY A LOT ABOUT THE MESSAGES INSIDE …. IT IS A VERY SPECIAL TIME …. BUT BECAUSE I ONLY HAD 2 DAYS TO GET READY FOR VISALIA …. I CAME UP WITH A BRILLIANT IDEA 🙂 …. WITH MY FRIEND, CAROLYN DRIVING, I COULD SPEND THE 4 HOURS OPENING THOSE CARDS …. IT WAS WONDERFUL TO READ AND ENJOY THE CARD MESSAGES …. AS WELL AS THE PERSONAL WRITTEN ONES …. IT WORKED! …. AS I WAS READING THE LAST CARD, SHE DROPPED ME OFF AT MY HOTEL 🙂 …. SO I WENT INTO THE HOTEL WITH SOOOO MUCH JOY IN MY HEART FOR GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO ME …. AND FOR THE 40 YEARS OF MINISTRY HE HAS GIVEN ME.

Great attendance of family and friends who came to celebrate! (click photo to enlarge)

Just a few of the photo displays

Family from Seattle: Brother Paul and Sister Gladine and Pastor Gray

Great Entertainment: Polynesian Dancers

Ms. Lillie’s Birthday Cake: 8-0 Pineapple Upside Down Cakes

Beautiful Fruit and Veggie displays

OF COURSE, THE QUARTET CONVENTION WAS INCREDIBLE! …. AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE …. IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO ATTEND, AND YOU ENJOY SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC, YOU WILL LOVE SEEING AND HEARING ALL THOSE TOP-NOTCH QUARTETS …. AND ME. 🙂 YOU WILL WANT TO RETURN YEAR AFTER YEAR! IT IS THE FIRST WEEKEND IN MAY …. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

This is where singers entertain as we are eating

The Herb Henry Family backs up Ms. Lillie

A great choir from Riverdale Assembly of God in Riverdale, CA backs up Ms. Lillie

ARRIVING BACK HOME …. I KNEW I HAD ONLY A COUPLE OF DAYS TO PREPARE FOR MY NEXT TRIP …. SO I HIT THE GROUND RUNNING …. I WAS VERY BUSY …. BUT SOON, I WOULD ENJOY 3 WEEKS IN BEAUTIFUL HAWAII …. I LOVE HAWAII!

If you notice closely that I am wearing three hats …. as it is easier to wear them all than to carry them.

…. HAVING LIVED THERE FOR 10 YEARS, I TRY TO RETURN OFTEN TO MEET WITH FRIENDS AND HAVE TIMES OF MINISTRY ….

Ms. Lillie with Pastor and Mrs. Ko, First Assembly of God

Ms. Lillie with long-time friends, The Glaza’s, The Naso’s and daughter Zoe

THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO DO …. MEET 2-3 FRIENDS AT THE SAME RESTAURANT …. ONE AT A TIME EVERY 2 HOURS …. THEN I CAN GO HOME, AND RELAX THE NEXT DAY …. NOT HAVING TO LEAVE THE CONDO …. IT WORKS SOOO WELL. 🙂 I SANG ON EACH OF THE 3 SUNDAYS I WAS THERE …. EVEN FLEW OVER TO MAUI FOR A MIDWEEK SERVICE …. WHAT A GREAT TIME I EXPERIENCED IN BEAUTIFUL HAWAII. I DID RECEIVE LOTS OF PHONE CALLS AND E-MAILS INQUIRING ABOUT THE VOLCANO …. AND THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN …. I WAS 3 ISLANDS AWAY, SO THINGS WERE NORMAL …. IN WAIKIKI WHERE I WAS.

SPEAKING OF WAIKIKI …. I HAVE DEAR FRIENDS OF NEARLY 40 YEARS WHO ALLOWED ME TO STAY IN THEIR BEAUTIFUL CONDO IN WAIKIKI …. ON THE 35TH FLOOR …. AND THE MOST REMARKABLE THING IS THAT WITH ALL OF THE MANY HIGH RISE APARTMENTS IN WAIKIKI …. IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO HAVE AN UNOBSCURED VIEW OF THAT UNMISTAKABLE HAWAII LANDMARK …. “DIAMOND HEAD,” BUT THIS CONDO DOES! IT IS ON ONE SIDE AND THEN …. STRAIGHT AHEAD …. IS THE OCEAN …. WOW! …. GOD IS GOOD TO ME! I REALLY DID NEED SOME TIME AWAY …. AFTER ALL I HAVE BEEN DOING 🙂 …. SO, THOSE 3 WEEKS IN HAWAII WERE SOOO GOOD FOR ME …. I LOVE TO SIT ON THE PORCH OF THE MOANA HOTEL IN THE ROCKING CHAIR. 🙂 AND I CAN’T WAIT TO RETURN! (YES, I DO PLAY THE TOURIST …. AND SEE A COUPLE OF SHOWS) …. EVEN GOT A KISS FROM “ELVIS” 🙂 AND SAW A GREAT POLYNESIAN DANCE SHOW ALSO! …. FUN!

View from Hotel

I love to sit on the porch of the Moana Hotel

Ms. Lillie with the current reigning Miss Hawaii

I celebrated my birthday at every restaurant I visited 🙂

Ms Lillie at statue of King Kamehameha

Ms. Lillie with Senior Adult Voices of Aloha concert

This place is the McDonald’s of Hawaii …. they’re everywhere …. 🙂 I only go there once when I am in the Islands 🙂

I READ THAT THERE WERE 2 PLACES …. 95% OF ALL TOURISTS TO HONOLULU WOULD VISIT …. THE KODAK SHOW AND THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET PLACE. WELL, BOTH ARE GONE …. THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET PLACE HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A FANTABULOUS …. HIGH-END SHOPPING AREA …. I VISITED IT …. COULD NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING THERE 🙂 …. BUT DID VISIT THE AREA WHERE IT LOOKS LIKES THE OLD MARKET PLACE …. THE VENDORS ARE A BLOCK DOWN THE WAY CALLED DUKES ALLEY …. SAME “STUFF” FOR SALE THAT WAS IN THE OLD INTERNATIONAL MARKET PLACE …. I DID PURCHASE SOME THINGS THERE.

Ms. Lillie with statue of her friend, Don Ho, in the New International Marketplace

I MUST TELL YOU ABOUT MY RENTAL CAR …. BECAUSE OF MY 2 KNEE REPLACEMENTS …. I DRIVE A HONDA HRV …. A SMALL SUV …. SO WHEN I TRAVEL, BECAUSE OF THE COST …. I USUALLY END UP GETTING THE CHEAPEST CAR …. ECONOMY OR COMPACT …. OF COURSE THAT MEANS THEY ARE SMALLER AND CLOSER TO THE GROUND …. AND MY KNEES TAKE A REAL BEATING …. BUT GOD! …. WHEN I WAS OFFERED AT THE COUNTER A CAR I HAD NEVER HEARD OF …. A FORD C-MAX …. BUT WAS TOLD I WOULD LIKE IT AS IT WAS A HYBRID. WELL, WHEN I APPROACHED THE STALL AND SAW IT WAS A SMALL SUV …. I BEGAN TO THANK GOD …. FOR MY KNEES WOULD BE “HAPPY” 🙂 …. OH MY!, I LOVE IT …. NOW LISTEN TO THIS, I DROVE IT FOR THE 3 WEEKS …. AND THERE WAS STILL 1/2 TANK OF GAS IN IT …. (AND I HAD BEEN DRIVING ALL OVER EVEN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND) …. SO NOT ONLY DID GOD GIVE ME A CAR THAT WAS EASY FOR ME TO GET IN AND OUT OF …. GOD ALSO GAVE ME ONE THAT USES LESS GAS …. NOW, I AM SERIOUSLY THINKING OF GETTING A HYBRID. 🙂 THE GOD WE SERVE KNOWS ABOUT OUR SITUATION …. HE KNOWS WHAT WE NEED AND WHEN WE NEED IT …. AND CAN TAKE CARE OF IT FOR US! …. AMEN!

FOR SOME REASON, I HAD NOT THOT ABOUT WINDOWS IN THOSE HIGH-RISE APARTMENTS NEEDED TO BE WASHED/CLEANED …. SO WHEN I CAME INTO THE ROOM THE OTHER DAY …. THERE WAS A GUY OUTSIDE MY WINDOW …. DOING JUST THAT! …. I COULD NOT RESIST TAKING A PHOTO OF HIM. 🙂 DO YOU THINK HE GETS HAZARDOUS PAY! 🙂 …. I HOPE SO!

I AM SOOO GRATEFUL THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL TO KEEP MY VOICE STRONG …. AND MY HEALTH GOOD, SO THAT I CAN CONTINUE WITH THE ASSIGNMENT HE GAVE MY 40 YEARS AGO! …. WHAT A REAL BLESSING TO BE ABLE TO PROCLAIM THRU MUSIC …. THAT “JESUS IS LORD.”

Eccl. 5:20 ~ For “(Lillie) will not dwell unduly on the days of her life, because God keeps her busy with the Joy of His Heart.

WELL, I MADE SURE I PLANNED ONLY A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE …. SO I AM ABLE TO GET MY INCOME TAX RETURN DONE …. (I HAD TO GET AN EXTENSION) BECAUSE OF THE LUAU …. BUT IT WILL ALL BE DONE SOON …. I STILL CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE TAX STRUCTURE IS SOOOO COMPLICATED …. ISN’T THERE AN EASIER WAY? …. I THINK THERE IS. 🙂 AND OF COURSE, I SHALL SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS I NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CARDS, GIFTS (EVEN THO I ASKED THAT NONE BE GIVEN TO ME), 🙂 E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS AND GORGEOUS FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT THE YEAR 2018 IS HALF OVER? …. THE TIME CERTAINLY DOES FLY BY …. WE ARE CLOSER TO THE RETURN OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST …. WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE! THE ASSIGNMENT I WAS GIVEN 40 YEARS AGO TO TAKE THE “GOOD NEWS” …. IS WHAT I AM ENDEAVORING TO DO DAILY …. I WANT TO TELL PEOPLE THAT HEAVEN IS REAL AND SO IS HELL …. AMEN!

John 9:4 ~ I must work the works of Him who sent me, for when night comes, no man (Lillie) can work.

I AM HAPPY THAT PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON DECLARED IN 1966 THAT THE LAST MONDAY IN MAY WOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS THE OFFICIAL DAY TO REMEMBER AND HONOR THOSE WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE …. THEIR LIVES …. FOR OUR FREEDOM …. LET’S RESOLVE THAT THEIR SACRIFICES WILL NOT BE IN VAIN …. MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS AMERICA …. AND MAY OUR TRUST ALWAYS BE IN GOD!

THERE ARE OFTEN GRIM REMINDERS EACH DAY …. ON THE NEWS …. THOSE CASKETS BEING BROUGHT HOME FROM WAR-TORN AREAS …. WE KNOW THAT “FREEDOM IS NOT FREE” …. WE MUST PAUSE TO REMEMBER THOSE OF OUR NATION WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES TO DEFEND THIS COUNTRY …. SO WE MAY LIVE/WORSHIP WITHOUT FEAR.

IF YOU ARE BEGINNING TO PLAN YOUR FALL SCHEDULE …. PLEASE CONSIDER HAVING ME COME SPEAK AND SING …. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! AND YES, YOU CAN AFFORD ME! 🙂 …. WITH THE HOLIDAYS COMING …. I KNOW I WILL BE A BLESSING FOR YOUR LADIES FUNCTION …. SENIORS MEETING …. AND YOUR CHURCH …. CALL ME AT 909-948-2448 AND WE’LL TALK!

AS ALWAYS, I MUST SAY A BIG THANKS TO YOU WHO PARTNER WITH ME IN THIS MINISTRY GOD HAS CALLED ME TO …. I SO APPRECIATE BOTH YOUR GIVING FINANCIALLY …. AND YOUR PRAYERS ARE WHAT I NEED TO KEEP ME LIFTED UP TO GOD …. FOR HIS JOY TO BE SEEN IN ME …. AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE LOVE YOU SHOW TO ME! GOD MAKES YOU A BLESSING TO ME.

IF YOU ARE FACING A SITUATION TODAY …. THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO WAY OUT …. WELL, HOW ABOUT “GOING THRU IT” …. WITH JESUS BY YOUR SIDE? …. HE DOES ASSURE US THAT HE WILL NOT …. HEAR THIS …. WILL NOT FORSAKE US …. HE ONLY ASKS US TO TRUST HIM COMPLETELY …. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE LIFE VERSE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IS PROV. 3: 5-6 …. (I KNOW IT IS MINE) …. WHAT A VERSE TO LIVE BY …. ONE CANNOT GO WRONG WHEN THAT VERSE IS LIVED OUT EACH AND EVERY DAY! MAY YOU BEGIN TODAY.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ~ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! …. THAT IS THE GREETING I SPEAK TO FOLK WHO SAY “HAPPY EASTER” TO ME. 🙂 AND A FEW YEARS AGO I BEGAN REFERRING TO EASTER AS “RESURRECTION DAY” …. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT IS TO ME! …. THE DAY JESUS WALKED OUT OF THAT TOMB (THAT COULDN’T HOLD HIM) …. AND HE LIVES TODAY!

I READ ABOUT A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER WHO ASKED HER CLASS …. WHO LOVES GOD? …. ALL RESPONDED I DO! I DO! EXCEPT BILLY, WHO SAID “I LOVE JESUS!” A LITTLE GIRL PROTESTED …. BY SAYING, “JESUS DIED! THE BOY QUICKLY REPLIED …. “YES, BUT EVERY EASTER HE RISES FROM THE DEAD!” OBVIOUSLY, THAT LITTLE KID HAD A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE RESURRECTION! …. 🙂 OF COURSE, AS BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS, WE KNOW THAT HE AROSE ONCE OVER 2000 YEARS AGO …. AND IS NOT DEAD! …. BUT ALIVE FOREVERMORE! THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST CHANGED EVERYTHING!

IT SEEMED WEIRD THAT EASTER AND APRIL FOOL’S DAY FELL ON THE SAME DAY …. SINCE 1900, IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED 4 TIMES 1923-34-45-AND 56 …. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? …. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN TIL 2029 🙂

JESUS WAS WILLING TO BE MOCKED, BEATEN, CRUCIFIED AND BURIED, BUT, THE RESURRECTION WAS WHAT LET SATAN KNOW HOW HE WAS FOOLED THAT MORNING!

YOU ASK ME HOW I KNOW HE LIVES …. WELL HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART …. AND I AM SOOOO GRATEFUL FOR HIS ABIDING PRESENCE IN ME! YES, HE IS ALIVE!

GALATIANS 2:20 ~ I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST [THAT IS, IN HIM I HAVE SHARED HIS CRUCIFIXION]; IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME. THE LIFE I NOW LIVE IN THE BODY I LIVE BY FAITH [BY ADHERING TO, RELYING ON, AND COMPLETELY TRUSTING] IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR ME.

WHAT A WONDERFUL RESURRECTION DAY WEEKEND I HAD …. WAS ASKED TO SING FOR A GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE …. WHAT SWEET FELLOWSHIP AS WE OBSERVED THE LORDS’ SUPPER …. I AM ALWAYS BLESSED TO PARTAKE OF COMMUNION. THEN ON RESURRECTION SUNDAY, I WAS PART OF A POWERFUL EASTER PRODUCTION …. AT 11AM …. AND SANG FOR ANOTHER SERVICE AT 4PM …. IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR ME TO CELEBRATE JESUS!

I LOVE MINISTRY TO SENIOR GROUPS …. NOW THAT I ARE ONE 🙂 …. I WAS ASKED TO COME FOR A MONTHLY POTLUCK LUNCHEON …. AND I WAS SOOO BLESSED AS THE SENIORS SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME …. PRAYING FOR THOSE PRESENT …. THOSE ILL WHO COULD NOT ATTEND, THE CHURCH, PASTORS, THE WORLD, OUR PRESIDENT TRUMP, FAMILIES, GRANDS, GREAT GRANDS …. OH MY, IT WAS POWERFUL! …. I MUST SAY THAT I HAD NEVER BEEN IN SUCH A MEETING …. IT WAS OBVIOUS, THEY KNOW PRAYER IS THE KEY …. I WAS REMINDED THAT WE AS SENIORS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO ALL THE THINGS WE ONCE DID …. BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY PRAY …. AND THAT IS WHAT THEY DID THAT DAY …. AND I AM TOLD, IT HAPPENS EACH TIME THEY GATHER …. PRAISE GOD!

EPHESIANS 6:18 ~ WITH ALL PRAYER AND PETITION PRAY [WITH SPECIFIC REQUESTS] AT ALL TIMES [ON EVERY OCCASION AND IN EVERY SEASON] IN THE SPIRIT, AND WITH THIS IN VIEW, STAY ALERT WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE AND PETITION [INTERCEDING IN PRAYER] FOR ALL GOD’S PEOPLE.

THE WONDERFUL PLACE WHERE I HAVE MOVED TO …. A SENIOR LIVING HOME …. HAS ONCE A MONTH AT LUNCH TIME A CELEBRATION FOR ALL PERSONS BORN THAT MONTH …. SO WE ARE CALLED UP FRONT AND PRESENTED WITH A HUGE CUPCAKE, A PIECE OF CAKE, ETC …. WELL, THE CHEF KNOWS THAT I DON’T EAT SWEETS …. SO, I WAS GIVEN A VERY SPECIAL TREAT …. A DISH OF HUGE STRAWBERRIES, (WITH A CANDLE) …. GRAPES, AND BLUEBERRIES …. I LOVED IT …. THAT MADE ME HAPPY! 🙂

BECAUSE I LIVED 10 YEARS IN HAWAII, I WANTED TO HAVE FOR MY BIG 80 …. A HAWAIIAN LUAU …. (WHEREVER I WAS LIVING AT THAT TIME) …. SO I BEGAN PLANNING …. AFTER I RECENTLY MOVED, I WANTED IT TO BE HERE …. WE COULD ACCOMODATE 70 FOLK …. WELL, AFTER THE RSVP’S WERE COMING IN SO QUICKLY, I REALIZED I WOULD HAVE TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION ….

…. BUT THANK GOD! I ONLY HAD TO MOVE IT 3 BLOCKS DOWN THE STREET …. PRAISE GOD, A CHURCH WAS ABLE TO LET ME COME TO THEIR FELLOWSHIP HALL …. I AM GRATEFUL TO GOD THAT IS WAS EVEN AVAILABLE …. SO, WHAT A WONDERFUL LUAU! I WANTED THE FOLK WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN TO HAWAII TO SEE WHAT GOES ON ALMOST EACH WEEKEND AT A HOME SOMEWHERE IN THE ISLANDS …. AND TELL THEM …. IF THEY WALKED UP TO ONE OF THOSE TRUCK LUNCH WAGONS ALL OVER THE ISLANDS …. THE FOOD THEY COULD ORDER WOULD BE WHAT I WOULD SERVE …. TERIYAKI CHICKEN …. WHITE RICE (BUT, I SERVED BROWN RICE) 🙂 AND MACARONI SALAD …. (I REMEMBER WHEN I LIVED THERE, I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THEY SERVED 2 STARCHES TOGETHER …. WITH NO GREEN VEGGIES) 🙂 …. WELL, ANYHOW, I HAD A HUGE VEGGIE DISPLAY FOR THOSE WHO WANTED SOME. FOR MY B’DAY CAKE, WE HAD PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE …. KINGS’ HAWAIIAN BREAD …. AND OF COURSE HAWAIIAN PUNCH. 🙂 THE FOOD WAS ENJOYED BY ALL …. AND WHAT IS A LUAU WITHOUT THE POLYNESIAN DANCERS? I BROT THEM IN FOR A FUN TIME, AND WHAT A FUN TIME IT WAS …. AS MY GUESTS WERE INVITED ON STAGE TO TRY TO LEARN THE HULA AND THE OTHER DANCES …. FUN! FUN! 🙂

WHAT A DAY TO CELEBRATE THESE 80 YEARS GOD HAS GIVEN ME ON THIS EARTH AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL IN FULL-TIME MINISTRY FOR THESE 40 YEARS …. I AM TRULY GRATEFUL THAT HE IS FAITHFUL!

ECCLESIASTES 5:20 ~ (LILLIE) DOES NOT DWELL ON THE DAYS OF HER LIFE, BECAUSE GOD KEEPS HER BUSY WITH HIS JOY IN HER HEART.

SO MANY WONDERFUL, LONG TIME FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAME FROM FAR AND NEAR TO HELP ME CELEBRATE THIS 80TH B’DAY …. AS WELL AS MY 40TH YEAR IN FULL TIME MINISTRY! …. I WILL BE SHOWING YOU PHOTOS NEXT MONTH.

WELL, IT IS FUNFEST TIME, THE TIME WHEN MANY POPULAR QUARTETS GATHER IN VISALIA CA. TO SING FOR 3 DAYS TO A CROWD OF 4000+ OF …. AS THEY ARE CALLED (“FANS OR GROUPIES”) WHO ARE WILLING TO SIT FROM 10AM TO 10PM LISTENING TO THEIR FAVORITE GROUPS SING …. AND OCCASIONALLY, I GET TO GO ON STAGE TO SING A SONG …. IT IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE THE FIRST WEEKEND OF MAY EACH YEAR. OH YES, WHEN THE FANS HAVE TO GO OUT TO EAT, ETC …. THEY JUST GO, BUT RUSH RITE BACK IN …. SO AS NOT TO MISS ANYTHING 🙂 YOU MIGHT THINK OF COMING NEXT YEAR (SEE: http://fanfestivals.com)!

IF YOU ARE ALREADY PLANNING YOUR SUMMER, FALL OR EVEN WINTER SCHEDULE, AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ME COME MINISTER FOR YOUR SENIOR GROUP, LADIES FUNCTION, PLEASE CALL ME AND WE CAN TALK …. 909 948-2448. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED AND YES, YOU CAN AFFORD ME! 🙂

SPECIAL THANKS FOR ALL MY “PARTNERS IN PRAYER AND GIVING” …. I CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOUR HELP …. YOUR PRAYER OR FINANCIAL GIVING! …. WHEN YOU CAN HELP, I AM SO GRATEFUL …. AND OF COURSE, YOUR PRAYERS ARE SOOO NEEDED BY ME …. THANKS! SOME OF YOU DO CONTRIBUTE TO THE MINISTRY GOD HAS CALLED ME TO AND I AM BLESSED TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT GOD HAD CALLED ME TO DO …. WHEN YOU GIVE …. YOU WILL BE SENT A TAX DEDUCTIBLE RECEIPT FOR YOUR GIFT OF LOVE DOWN HERE PLUS A REWARD IN HEAVEN 🙂

HEBREWS 6:10 ~ FOR GOD IS NOT UNJUST SO AS TO FORGET YOUR WORK AND THE LOVE WHICH YOU HAVE SHOWN FOR HIS NAME IN MINISTERING TO [THE NEEDS OF] THE SAINTS (GOD’S PEOPLE), AS YOU DO.

NOW, WHAT ABOUT YOU? …. DOES IT SEEM THAT YOU ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME CRYING OUT IN DEEP DISTRESS BECAUSE YOU ARE WONDERING WHERE GOD IS? …. WELL, HE IS WATCHING YOU AND DOES KNOW ALL THAT YOU ARE FACING …. HE KNOWS HOW MUCH YOU CAN BEAR …. AND NO MORE THAN THAT WILL HE PLACE UPON YOU …. HE IS WITH US THRU EVERY STRUGGLE …. HE GIVES GRACE TO US …. AND IT IS SUFFICIENT FOR THE LOAD! THE GREATER THE BURDEN, THE GREATER HIS GRACE! …. WANTA HEAR ME SING THAT …. HERE IS MY MOST FAVORITE SONG, “HE GIVETH MORE GRACE” ~ https://youtu.be/uvDCuN68XlM AMEN!

2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 ~ BUT HE HAS SAID TO ME, “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU [MY LOVING KINDNESS AND MY MERCY ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH—ALWAYS AVAILABLE—REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION]; FOR [MY] POWER IS BEING PERFECTED [AND IS COMPLETED AND SHOWS ITSELF MOST EFFECTIVELY] IN [YOUR] WEAKNESS.” THEREFORE, I WILL ALL THE MORE GLADLY BOAST IN MY WEAKNESSES, SO THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST [MAY COMPLETELY ENFOLD ME AND] MAY DWELL IN ME.

MAY THE PEACE OF GOD SURROUND YOU DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME AS YOU LINGER IN THE TENDER, LOVING EMBRACE OF JESUS WOW! WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE!

1 PETER 5:10 ~ AFTER YOU HAVE SUFFERED FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THE GOD OF ALL GRACE [WHO IMPARTS HIS BLESSING AND FAVOR], WHO CALLED YOU TO HIS OWN ETERNAL GLORY IN CHRIST, WILL HIMSELF COMPLETE, CONFIRM, STRENGTHEN, AND ESTABLISH YOU [MAKING YOU WHAT YOU OUGHT TO BE].

I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD …. IT IS “THE LUCK OF THE IRISH” …. BUT I WOULD RATHER SAY …. NO, ACTUALLY, IT IS “THE GRACE OF GOD!” 🙂 IF WE KNOW JESUS AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR …. WE ARE RECIPIENTS OF HIS “AMAZING GRACE.”

HERE WE ARE AT THE END OF MARCH …. AND THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH …. WE COULD SEE ALL THE ST. PATRICK’S DECORATIONS …. I DO LOVE THAT COLOR GREEN …. IN FACT A DEAR FRIEND MADE A TOP FOR ME YEARS AGO FOR A ST. PATRICKS DAY BRUNCH …. I LOVE THAT COLOR GREEN!

I HAVE HEARD MANY STORIES ABOUT THE MAN, ST. PATRICK …. SO I WENT ON GOOGLE, (OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALWAYS BELIEVE EVERYTHING POSTED ON THERE RITE?) 🙂 …. SO HERE IT GOES ….

IT SEEMS THAT ST. PATRICK WAS BORN INTO A WEALTHY FAMILY IN ROMANO-BRITAIN. HIS FATHER WAS A DEACON AND HIS GRANDFATHER, A PRIEST IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. AT AGE 16, HE WAS KIDNAPPED BY IRISH RAIDERS AND TAKEN TO BE A SLAVE IN IRELAND. HIS JOB FOR 6 YEARS WAS THAT OF A SHEPHERD, IT WAS DURING THAT TIME HE BECAME A CHRISTIAN. ONE DAY, GOD TOLD HIM TO FLEE TO THE COAST WHERE A SHIP WOULD BE WAITING TO TAKE HIM HOME …. RETURNING TO BRITAIN, HE BECAME A PRIEST AND THEN FELT A CALL TO RETURN TO IRELAND TO CONVERT THE PAGANS TO CHRISTIANITY. HE SPENT MANY YEARS EVANGELIZING THE NORTHERN HALF OF IRELAND AND THOUSANDS WERE CONVERTED …. THE RECORDS SHOW THAT HIS DEATH WAS ON MARCH 17 AND HE BECAME IRELAND’S FOREMOST SAINT BECAUSE OF ALL THE GOOD HE HAD DONE. HERE IS SOMETHING INTERESTING ….IN PAGAN IRELAND, IT SEEMS THAT THE NUMBER 3 WAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER AND THERE MANY TRIPLE GODS/DEITIES. SO, ST PATRICK WAS HELPED BY THIS IN HIS EVANGELISTIC EFFORT …. HE USED THE 3-LEAF SHAMROCK TO EXPLAIN THE HOLY TRINITY TO THEM. AFTER HIS DEATH, AT ABOUT THE 9TH AND 10TH CENTURY …. HE BECAME KNOWN AS THE PATRON SAINT OF IRELAND …. SO IN OUR DAY …. THERE ARE PARADES, PARTIES …. (GET THIS …. EVEN THE LENT SEASON IS INTERRUPTED) …. SO ALL CAN DRINK THAT “ONE DAY.” I LOVE WHAT FATHER VINCENT TWOMEY SAID IN AN ARTICLE …. “IT IS TIME TO RECLAIM ST. PATRICKS DAY AS A CHURCH FESTIVAL” …. HE HAS QUESTIONED THE REAL REASON FOR THE MINDLESS ALCOHOL-FUELED REVERLY …. AND AS MOST OF US CAN SEE ON THAT DAY, IT JUST SEEMS TO BE A DAY TO DRINK …. AND TOOOOOO MUCH! BUT THIS IS WHAT ST. PATRICK REALLY DID …. HE BROUGHT CHRISTIANITY TO A PAGAN PLACE. PRAISE BE TO GOD!

JOHN 3:17 ~ FOR GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THEM …. BUT THAT WORLD MIGHT FIND SALVATION AND BE SAFE THRU HIM.

WE ARE JUST A MONTH AWAY FROM MY 80TH B’DAY CELEBRATION …. YIPPPPEEEEE! 🙂 BUT, HOW COULD THAT BE? FOLK ASK ME …. MY ANSWER? …. WELL, JUST KEEP LIVING 🙂 …. I’LL SHARE WITH YOU ALL ABOUT IT NEXT BLOG.

I WAS INVITED TO SPEAK/SING FOR A LADIES GROUP WITH AN INTERESTING NAME …. G.A.L.S. (GET A LIFE SISTER) …. HOW CUTE, HUH? …. WELL, WHAT A VERY SPECIAL GROUP …. IT WAS A “HAT THING” …. (I LOVE TO SEE LADIES WEARING THEM) 🙂 AND SOOO MUCH FUN. I AM THANKFUL HOW GOD GIVES ME OPPORTUNITIES TO MINISTER IN ALL TYPES OF SETTINGS.

FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SING AT A GREAT CHURCH IN THIS AREA CALLED ECHOS OF FAITH …. (THE LOCATION AND NAME JUST CHANGED TO FAITH LIFE …. NOW IN EASTVALE, CA) THE PASTORS JIM AND IRETA HAVE BEEN DEAR FRIENDS …. AND VERY SPECIAL TO ME …. WELL, WHAT A SURPRISE TO RECEIVE A CALL FROM PASTOR JIM …. TELLING ME HIS WIFE …. MY FRIEND, IRETA HAD SUFFERED A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK AND HAD GONE TO BE WITH JESUS …. WOW! I WAS SHOCKED! …. I AM SOOO HAPPY I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE SERVICE …. AND WHAT A SERVICE! …. FIRST OFF, THE BUILDING WAS PACKED …. AS WELL AS 2 OVERFLOW ROOMS, THE SERVICE WAS INSPIRATIONAL, FUNNY AND A REAL TRIBUTE TO THIS INCREDIBLE LADY …. EVERYONE WHO SPOKE TOUCHED OUR HEARTS …. WELL, AS I ALWAYS SAY …. SHE IS “FINALLY HOME” …. AND SOON WE WILL ALL BE TOGETHER AGAIN. WHAT A DAY OF REJOICING THAT WILL BE! …. I SHALL CERTAINLY MISS HER!

Pastor Jim & Ireta Willoughby and Ms. Lillie

PSALMS 116:15 ~ BLESSED IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS ….. HIS LOVING ONES.

I SHALL NEVER FORGET THE PHONE CALL …. AS I SAT AT MY DESK AT THE TELEPHONE COMPANY …. MY SUPERVISOR APPROACHED MY DESK AND SAID …. “THERE IS SOMEONE ON THE PHONE FOR YOU …. HIS NAME IS BILL GAITHER” …. WELL, THAT WAS 1976 …. SO IT WAS KINDA LIKE SOMEONE SAYING THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WAS ON THE PHONE TO TALK TO ME …. 🙂 AS I NERVOUSLY APPROACHED THE PHONE …. MR. BILL SAID, “HE HAD BEEN SENT MY FIRST “RECORD” BY HIS FRIEND, DOUG OLDHAM …. THEY BOTH WERE IMPRESSED WITH IT” …. HE THEN MENTIONED THAT HE AND HIS WIFE, GLORIA WERE STARTING A RECORD COMPANY IN NASHVILLE …. AND ASKED IF I WOULD LIKE TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST ARTISTS TO BE SIGNED? …. DUH! 🙂 …. WELL, OFF I WENT TO NASHVILLE …. MET MY PRODUCERS, ARRANGERS, AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORK TOGETHER TO “MAKE” A “RECORD” …. I WAS SIGNED TO A 2 RECORD CONTRACT WITH PARAGON …. AND WHAT A WONDERFUL TIME I HAD AT PARAGON RELEASE FUNCTIONS …. THEN WAS ASKED TO TRAVEL WITH THE BILL GAITHER TRIO CONCERTS …. (IT WAS BILL, DANNY AND GLORIA) …. AND LATER, GARY MCSPADDEN JOINED THE TRIO ….. I ALWAYS SANG THE SAME SONG …. EACH NITE …. CAUSE THAT WAS THE SONG EVERYONE SEEMED TO LOVE …. “THE COMFORTER HAS COME” …. BY THE WAY, I STILL AM ASKED TO SING IT …. 42 YEARS AFTER THE RELEASE …. WOW!

NOW ON TO THE 2ND “RECORD” …. IN 1977 …. I WAS SOOO VERY EXCITED THAT I COULD HAVE THE SONG ON THE PROJECT THAT STILL IS A FAVORITE OF MANY …. “HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW.” I KNEW I WOULD BE ABLE TO SING IT AS LONG AS I COULD SING, AS THOSE LYRICS ALWAYS ENCOURAGE AND INSPIRE. I MUST TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT I PERSONALLY KNOW ABOUT …. THE PRODUCER FOR MY CHRISTMAS CD …. SAID “YOU REALLY NEED STRINGS ON YOUR SONG “HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS.” WELL, I KNEW I COULD NOT AFFORD TO DO IT …. HE THEN TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO EUROPE …. TAKING SEVERAL PROJECTS FROM DIFFERENT ARTISTS TO USE THE HUGE ORCHESTRAS OVERSEAS TO ADD TO THEIR UPCOMING RELEASES. WELL, I THEN REMEMBERED THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH ME MANY YEARS AGO …. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD GO TO LONDON WITH A SMALL TEAM, ONE OF THEM WAS AN INCREDIBLE ARRANGER RONN HUFF TO RECORD “SPARROW” AND 4 MORE OF MY SONGS …. AND I DID …. I REMEMBER AS I ENTERED THAT GIANT HALL WITH AT LEAST 50 OF THE LONDON PHILHARMONIC …. CONDUCTOR RONN HUFF ASKED ME TO “STAND CLOSE TO HIM …. SO HE COULD HEAR HOW I WOULD BE SINGING IT …. TOLD ME TO TAKE MY TIME …. JUST SING IT THE WAY I WANTED TO 🙂 WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID! …. AS HE CONDUCTED THAT INCREDIBLE ORCHESTRA …. AND FOLK, I AM STILL USING THAT SAME SOUND TRACK HERE 42 YEAR LATER …. AND IT SEEMS TO BE MY MOST REQUESTED SONG AS I TRAVEL …. I USUALLY SING IT IN EACH OF MY CONCERT …. WHAT A MESSAGE IN THAT SONG! …. AND GOD ALWAYS USES IT TO CONFIRM HIS WORD! WELL, I LEARNED THIS WEEK THAT MY FRIEND AND ARRANGER RONN HUFF PASSED AWAY …. HE WENT TO BE WITH JESUS …. WHAT A WONDERFUL GIFT GOD GAVE HIM …. I USUALLY KNOW IF AN ARRANGEMENT I AM LISTENING TO WAS DONE BY RONN AS HE ALWAYS USED “FRENCH HORNS” IN A BEAUTIFUL WAY 🙂 …. I AM HAPPY I KNEW HIM AND WOULD TELL HIM OFTEN HOW THANKFUL I WAS FOR THOSE AMAZING ARRANGEMENTS WE RECORDED IN LONDON.

Donna & Ron Huff and Ms. Lillie

REV. 14:13 ~ BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD …. THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR WORKS AND DEEDS.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS PLACED ME HERE “FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS” TO ENCOURAGE THE BODY OF CHRIST. THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT TIMES …. OFTEN WE CANNOT SEEM TO BELIEVE WHAT IS HAPPENING …. “RITE UNDER OUR NOSES” …. YES, WE ARE IN A WAR …. BUT BECAUSE JESUS IS OUR COMMANDER …. WE WIN! WE MUST USE ALL THE POWER AVAILABLE TO US THRU JESUS CHRIST …. TO STAND AGAINST SATAN …. HE IS A THIEF AND WILL STEAL FROM US …. OUR JOY AND PEACE …. BUT JESUS HAS COME INTO OUR LIVES TO GIVE US LIFE AND THAT MORE ABUNDANTLY …. WHAT A PROMISE! …. SO LET’S KEEP OUR EYES FOCUSED ON JESUS …. THE ONE WHO IS WANTING TO LEAD US ALL THE WAY TO VICTORY. AMEN!

I CORINTHIANS 15:57 ~ THANKS BE TO GOD, WHO GIVES US THE VICTORY …. MAKING US CONQUERORS THRU OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

I WANTED TO SHARE PHOTOS OF THE QUARTERLY BAPTISM AT MY CHURCH …. IT IS AWESOME! …. THERE ARE USUALLY OVER 200 EACH TIME! …. THERE IS A HUGE TANK BROUGHT INTO THE CHURCH …. AND THOSE WHO WILL BE BAPTIZED HAVE A CLASS ON “WHAT THEY ARE DOING” …. AND THEY ARE SOOOO EXCITED TO ENTER THE POOL …. IT IS SOMETHING TO BEHOLD! …. THERE ARE SEVERAL PASTORS BAPTIZING …. AND WHAT JOY ON THE FACES OF THE CANDIDATES AFTER THEY ARE SUBMERGED AND COME OUT OF THE WATER …. HAVING BEEN BURIED WITH CHRIST IN BAPTISM.

OH, HOW I HATE JUNK MAIL! …. WHICH IS WHAT I GET A LOT OF …. (I AM CERTAIN YOU DO ALSO) I DO LIKE TO SHRED THINGS THAT HAVE MY NAME AND ADDRESS INFO …. SO IT CAN REALLY ADD UP TO A LOT OF SHREDDING FOR ME TO DO ON MY OFFICE SHREDDER …. (REMEMBER, I DO ALL OF MY OWN SEC’Y WORK) …. SO I HAVE LOTS TO DO …. NO TIME FOR SHREDDING THAT IS WHY I WAS SOOOO HAPPY TO LEARN THAT NEARBY THERE IS A SENIOR CENTER …. THAT DOES SHREDDING FOR US ONCE A MONTH …. THE TRUCK COMES BY AND YOU ARE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SEE IT DONE …. OR YOU CAN JUST DROP IT OFF …. I PREFER TO SEE IT DONE WHY, OH WHY DO WE HAVE SO MUCH PAPER TO DISCARD? …. I DO NOT REMEMBER THIS PROBLEM WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.

SEEMS THAT EASTER IS COMING SOOOO SOON THIS YEAR …. WITH PALM SUNDAY BEING IN MARCH …. THIS IS THE TIME TO REFLECT ON THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY OF JESUS INTO JERUSALEM RIDING ON A COLT …. THERE WERE SHOUTS OF HOSANNA …. PALM LEAVES WERE BEING WAVED …. BUT JUST A FEW DAYS LATER …. PERHAPS SOME OF THOSE SAME FOLK …. WOULD TURN ON HIM AND THEN CRY “CRUCIFY HIM.” JESUS KNEW WHY HE CAME TO THIS EARTH …. AND HE WAS WILLING TO TAKE ON THE SINS OF THE WORLD SO THAT WE MAY BE SAVED …. THANK YOU LORD! I AM GLAD YOU DID!

LUKE 19:38 ~ THE WHOLE CROWD BEGAN TO CRY OUT …. BLESSED BE THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.

HALLELUJAH, I AM COMING UP ON 40 YEARS OF FULL-TIME MINISTRY GOD HAS CALLED ME TO …. AND I LOVE IT! …. I DO NOT PLAN TO RETIRE 🙂 …. SOME OF YOU I HAVE KNOWN FOR THOSE 40 YEARS …. YOU HAVE PRAYED FOR ME …. ENCOURAGED ME …. AND BEEN THERE FOR ME …. OTHERS OF YOU, I HAVE NOT KNOWN AS LONG PERHAPS …. BUT, BE ASSURED, I AM GRATEFUL THAT GOD PLACED YOU IN MY LIFE. THANKS FOR YOUR GIFTS OF LOVE TO THIS MINISTRY THAT GOD CALLED ME TO. (IT IS GOOD GROUND) I DO APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT …. AND WHATEVER YOU GIVE, YOU WILL RECEIVE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE RECEIPT DOWN HERE PLUS A REWARD IN HEAVEN. 🙂 THANK YOU!

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE MESSAGE I HEARD FROM MY PASTOR LAST NITE …. HE TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY TIMES A DAY WE “SHARE” SOMETHING THAT COMES TO US VIA CELL PHONE …. OR WE SEE ON “YOU-TUBE” THE STATS SAY …. AN AVERAGE OF 16 TIMES A DAY. HE EXHORTED US TO “SHARE JESUS” AT LEAST THAT MANY TIMES AND SEE HOW DIFFERENT THE WORLD WOULD BE …. AMEN! I AM NOT ON FACEBOOK (HOWEVER, I DO HAVE A FACEBOOK FAN PAGE) …. BUT I DON’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING LIKE TALK WITH FOLK …. INTERACT AT ALL …. AND DO NOT HAVE A CLUE AS TO HOW TO EVEN GET ON AND “SHARE” ANYTHING 🙂 BUT AS I HAVE PERSONAL CONTACT WITH FOLK AS I MOVE ABOUT THE DAY …. I WANT TO …. AND AM TRYING TO “SHARE JESUS” …. FOR YEARS I HAVE BEEN LEAVING A GREAT TRACT WITH FOLK THAT HAS A $2 BILL IN IT …. SO THEY MAY BE MORE APT TO READ IT …. WE CAN ALL BE CREATIVE! AMEN!

MATTHEW 5:16 ~ LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN THAT THEY WILL SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND GLORIFY AND PRAISE YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.

ROMANS 1:16 ~ FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, FOR IT IS GOD’S POWER WORKING UNTO SALVATION TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES.

IT WILL BE A JOY TO HEAR FROM YOU WHEN YOU WANT ME TO COME TO MINISTER IN WORD/SONG FOR YOUR SENIOR MINISTRY …. LADIES FUNCTION …. OR YOUR CHURCH …. WE’LL HAVE A GOOD TIME …. YES, YOU CAN AFFORD ME AND YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. 🙂 PLEASE CALL ME AT 909 948-2448 AND WE’LL TALK!

ROMANS 15:13 ~ MAY THE GOD OF HOPE SO FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING …. THRU THE EXPERIENCE OF YOUR FAITH …. THAT BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT YOU MAY ABOUND AND BE OVERFLOWING WITH HOPE.

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE …. WE WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT! ~ PSALM 118:24

MY, THIS “NEW YEAR” IS ALREADY PASSING QUICKLY …. AND SOME OF OUR CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HAVE GONE ON TO GLORY TO BE WITH JESUS, I WILL WRITE MORE ABOUT THEM LATER ….

FEBRUARY BEGAN WITH THE “SUPER BOWL” …. AND BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO SAN JOSE AREA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6/7 MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR EDWIN HAWKINS …. I DECIDED TO GO UP EARLIER AND SING IN A CHURCH ON THE SUNDAY …. I CONTACTED AN OLD FRIEND WHO HAS PASTORED FOR 37 YEARS TO TELL HIM WHY I WOULD BE IN THE AREA …. AND …. ASKED IF I COME BY AND SING “O HAPPY DAY?” …. WELL, HE INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SERVICE BECAUSE OF SUPER BOWL …. THEY WOULD BE HAVING A VIDEO WITH INTERVIEWS AND TESTIMONIES FROM NFL PLAYERS WHO ARE COMMITTED CHRISTIANS …. BUT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ME CLOSE EACH OF THE SERVICES WITH THAT SONG …. WOW! EACH WAS AN INCREDIBLE SERVICE …. AND THAT VIDEO WAS AWESOME! …. IT WAS A BLESSING TO SEE AND HEAR THOSE GUYS SPEAK FERVENTLY ABOUT THEIR FAITH IN GOD. I LOVED BEING REUNITED WITH PASTOR BUCHHOLZ AT HIS EXCITING CHURCH ….

PASTOR BILL & MELODY BUCHHOLZ WITH MS. LILLIE

THE CHURCH WOULD SEAT 2500 …. AND IT WAS PACKED BOTH NITES AS WE GATHERED FOR A CELEBRATION OF LIFE …. THE LIFE OF EDWIN HAWKINS …. A FRIEND OF MANY …. A TALENTED MAN BORN TO PLAY THE PIANO …. TO WRITE SONGS …. TO REARRANGE MANY SONGS …. AS HE DID WITH THE HYMN WRITTEN IN THE 17TH CENTURY …. “O HAPPY DAY” …. WHICH HE TAUGHT TO HIS CHOIR …. (I WAS A MEMBER OF THAT CHOIR) …. WE RECORDED THE SONG …. AND IT ENDED UP BEING THE FIRST GOSPEL SONG TO CROSS OVER TO THE BILLBOARD CHARTS …. IN FACT, THE ORIGINAL EDWIN HAWKINS SINGERS WERE ASKED TO COME SING …. AND WE DID! …. HE WAS MY KIND, GENTLE FRIEND AND I SHALL MISS HIM …. BUT WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN …. THAT WILL BE A “HAPPY DAY” AMEN!

THE ORIGINAL EDWIN HAWKINS SINGERS

THE EXCITING 100+ CELEBRATION CHOIR WHO ALSO SANG

PASTOR DONNIE MCCLURKIN SANG AS ONLY HE CAN! 🙂

IF YOU HAVE EVER WATCHED TBN, WELL, FOR 40 + YEARS, YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD THIS ANOINTED MAN TEACH, PREACH, OR JUST “BE THERE” ON STAGE LISTENING WHEN OTHERS WERE. 🙂 HE HAS BEEN A VITAL PART OF THAT NETWORK …. AND IS NOW THE SENIOR PASTOR AT THE TRINITY BROADCAST CHURCH IN IRVINE …. I HAVE KNOWN HIM ALL THOSE YEARS AND WAS SO HONORED TO BE INVITED TO HIS 90TH B’DAY CELEBRATION …. HE IS A REAL MAN OF GOD AND STILL AN ANOINTED PREACHER, TEACHER. WHAT A LIFE GOD HAS GIVEN HIM. I AM HAPPY HE IS MY FRIEND …. HIS WIFE, MS. HILDE, IS A DEAR PARTNER TO HIM.

WHAT A JOY FOR ME TO SEE AT THE PARTY, MY “OLD FRIENDS” WHOM I HAVE KNOWN ALSO FOR THOSE 40+ YEARS …. (HIS WAS THE VOICE YOU HEARD FOR YEARS INTRODUCING THE “PRAISE PROGRAM”) …. JAY JONES ….. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

JAY & MARILEE JONES WITH MS. LILLIE

WE DO HEAR THE WORD “LOVE” OFTEN THIS TIME OF THE YEAR ….THE 14TH OF FEBRUARY …. VALENTINES’ DAY …. IT HAS BEEN SET ASIDE TO TELL THOSE CLOSE TO US THAT WE DO LOVE THEM …. THE GREETING CARD COMPANIES DO A BOOMING BUSINESS …. THE LINES ARE LONG AT SEE’S CANDY STORES …. 🙂 …. THERE ARE HUGGY BEARS …. AND OF COURSE, HOW COULD I FAIL TO MENTION THE LOVELY BOUQUETS DELIVERED OR EVEN PURCHASED AT THE LAST MINUTE. 🙂 I LEARNED THAT THE ENTIRE MONTH OF FEBRUARY IS NOW KNOWN AS THE “LOVE MONTH” 🙂 …. SO I THOT I WOULD WRITE SOMETHING EVEN AFTER VALENTINES’ DAY. 🙂 FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS …. THE BANQUETS I HAVE SING/SPOKEN FOR HAVE BEEN CALLED SOMETHING LIKE “FRIENDS” OR “LOVE” FEASTS …. BECAUSE THERE ARE SOOO MANY FOLK WHO ARE ALONE AND SHOULD NOT BE REMINDED THAT THEIR MATES HAVE PASSED AWAY …. OR THOSE WHO ARE SINGLE (AS I AM) AND HAVE NO ONE IN OUR LIVES TO SHARE THAT DAY WITH. SO MY MESSAGE IS ALWAYS TO TALK AND SING ABOUT GOD’S LOVE FOR US. (THAT OLD HYMN …. “THE LOVE OF GOD” …. IS A FAVORITE ONE I SING). LOVE IS AN ACTION VERB …. SO, AS PERHAPS THE MOST WELL-KNOWN SCRIPTURE IN THE BIBLE STATES …. “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON …. AND WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT PERISH …. BUT WILL HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.” GOD KNEW WHAT WE NEEDED AND SENT “HIM” …. BECAUSE LOVE IS AN ACTION VERB, HE SAW THE NEED AND FILLED IT IN A “PERFECT WAY” …. AND WE TOO, MUST SHOW LOVE HOWEVER AND WHENEVER WE CAN …. AS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES STATES …. WHEN YOU VISITED THOSE IN PRISON, FED THE HUNGRY …. CARED FOR THE ORPHANS AND WIDOWS …. (YOU MAY HAVE THOT YOU WERE DOING IT FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED IT) …. BUT WE ARE REALLY DOING IT AS UNTO THE LORD …. MATTHEW 25:40 …. WHEN JESUS IS IN OUR HEARTS …. HE BRINGS “REAL LOVE” …. CAUSE “GOD IS LOVE.”

WHAT A JOY FOR ME TO MINISTER TO 100+ LADIES ON VALENTINES’ DAY …. THEY WERE ALL WIDOWS AND WHAT A LUNCHEON! …. THERE WERE MANY, MANY GIFTS GIVEN TO THEM …. THEY WERE MADE TO FEEL SOOO SPECIAL (AS THEY ARE) …. THERE WAS LOTS OF LOVE IN THAT ROOM …. I FELT IT AND WAS HAPPY TO BE THERE. AND IT WAS EVIDENT THAT GOD WAS SPEAKING TO THEIR HEARTS AS I SPOKE AND SANG! LET ME SHARE WHAT THE GREAT MAN OF GOD CHARLES SPURGEON WROTE …. “NOTHING CAN SATISFY THE ENTIRE MAN BUT THE LORD’S LOVE AND THE LORD HIMSELF” AMEN!

MATTHEW 11:28 ~ COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.

PSALM 55:22 ~ CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD, AND HE SHALL SUSTAIN YOU; HE SHALL NEVER PERMIT THE RIGHTEOUS TO BE MOVED.

I AM CERTAIN THAT AS OFTEN AS BILLY GRAHAM TRAVELED THE WORLD …. HE WAS ALWAYS HAPPY TO RETURN HOME …. AS THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME! …. WELL, NOW HE IS “FINALLY HOME” …. IT’S THE PLACE HE HAS SPOKEN ABOUT FOR MANY DECADES TO LITERALLY MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD …. INVITING THEM TO COME AND “GO WITH HIM” TO LIVE WITH JESUS FOREVER AND EVER. WHAT A MAN! …. HE WAS CALLED AND SENT BY GOD TO THE WORLD WITH “GOOD NEWS” …. I SHALL NEVER FORGET THE NITE …. IN 1982 …. HE CAME TO SAN JOSE FOR A CRUSADE …. OF COURSE, I WANTED TO SING IN THE CHOIR AND DID! …. WHAT INCREDIBLE SERVICES! …. MANY CAME FORWARD TO RECEIVE JESUS AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR …. THE HUSBAND OF MY DEAR FRIEND WAS IN CHARGE OF HIS SECURITY DETAIL …. AND EXCITED TO HAVE THAT JOB AND RESPONSIBILITY …. WHEN JIM CALLED AND ASKED IF I WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET BILLY GRAHAM? …. DUH! …. IS WHAT I THOT 🙂 …. AND WAS SOOOO VERY HAPPY WHEN HE TOLD ME THAT JUST AS DR. GRAHAM WAS LEAVING …. I WAS TO BE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEPS AS HE CAME DOWN …. AND OF COURSE, I WAS THERE! …. SO MY FRIEND SIMPLY SAID “DR GRAHAM, THIS IS MY FRIEND, LILLIE KNAULS …. A GREAT SINGER …. AND SHE WANTS TO MEET YOU” …. WELL, HE REACHED OUT HIS HAND …. TOLD ME HOW HAPPY HE WAS TO MEET ME …. I SHOOK IT AS I THANKED HIM FOR COMING TO SAN JOSE …. HE SMILED THAT KIND SMILE AND GOT INTO THE VEHICLE …. WHAT A NITE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SHAKE HANDS AND SPEAK THOSE FEW WORDS TO THIS MAN OF GOD. MANY YEARS LATER, I WAS VERY EXCITED TO BE ASKED TO COME FOR A BILL GAITHER VIDEO TAPING AT THE BILLY GRAHAM LIBRARY …. WHAT A PLACE! …. IT IS INCREDIBLE! THERE IS SOOOO MUCH TO SEE AND DO …. AND FOLLOWING THE LIVES OF RUTH AND BILLY GRAHAM THROUGHOUT THE PLACE IS WONDERFUL! …. I LOVE THE BUILDING WITH THE HUGE CROSS AS A DOOR …. (SO ALL MUST COME IN AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS) …. THAT IS POWERFUL! I THANK GOD FOR THE LIFE OF BILLY GRAHAM AND THE MESSAGE HE ALWAYS PROCLAIMED! AMEN!

THE WORLD HEARD THE NEWS ON FEBRUARY 21, 2018 THAT ONE WHO HAS BEEN CALLED “AMERICA’S PASTOR” WAS CALLED HOME TO GLORY …. OUR BELOVED DR. BILLY GRAHAM. WE ALL KNEW HE WOULD BE LEAVING THIS EARTH ONE DAY …. BUT WE ALL STILL FELT A LOSS …. (EVEN IF WE HAD NEVER MET HIM OR SPOKEN WITH HIM) …. BUT OH MY! HE CERTAINLY SPOKE TO OUR HEARTS …. EACH TIME WE HEARD A MESSAGE FROM HIM …. OR SAW AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM ON A POPULAR TALK SHOW …. WE KNEW, “IT WAS ALL ABOUT JESUS” …. WHAT A CALLING FROM FATHER GOD HE RECEIVED AND WAS SENT AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE “GOOD NEWS” …. HE WENT …. AND AS A RESULT, MANY SOULS ARE SAVED! …. HE FINISHED HIS WORK!

WELCOME BILLY, COME ON IN! WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!

I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT 2018 …. AND WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR ME …. HE IS OPENING NEW DOORS FOR MINISTRY …. AND I AM HAPPY TO WALK THRU THEM. 🙂 SO, IF YOU ARE PLANNING A SENIOR ADULT FUNCTION …. A LADIES LUNCHEON/TEA …. AND EVEN FOR A CHURCH SERVICE …. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN I CAN COME …. YOU CAN CALL ME AT 909-949-2448 …. REMEMBER, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! AND YES, YOU CAN AFFORD ME! 🙂

I AM TRULY THANKFUL AND APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU WHO PRAY FOR THIS MINISTRY AND GIVE FINANCIALLY …. THANKS FOR BEING MY PARTNER …. YOU HELP ME TO DO THE WORK GOD HAS CALLED ME TO DO …. WHAT AN “ASSIGNMENT” HE GAVE ME. ALSO, PLEASE, LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN PRAY FOR YOU …. CALL 909-948-2448 AND WE CAN AGREE TOGETHER. AMEN!

ACTS 20:24 ~ MY LIFE (LILLIE’S LIFE) IS WORTH NOTHING UNLESS I USE IT FOR DOING THE WORK ASSIGNED ME …. TELLING OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT GOD’S MIGHTY KINDNESS AND LOVE.

ANOTHER DEAR FRIEND OF MINE WENT TO BE WITH JESUS …. HAL SPENCER WHO PRODUCED MY VERY FIRST RECORD BACK IN 1975 …. I WANT TO SHARE A BIT ABOUT HIM …. I MET HIM IN 1974 AFTER I HAD BEEN GIVEN MONEY TO HELP WITH THE COST OF A RECORDING. HIS COMPANY, THE WELL KNOWN “MANNA MUSIC” PRODUCED THAT ALBUM …. AND IN 1975 I HAD IT IN MY HANDS …. WOW! HAL WAS A DEAR FRIEND AS WAS HIS WIFE, JUDY WHO IS STILL TODAY ONE OF MY DEAREST FRIENDS …. I SPOKE WITH HIM JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I LEARNED THAT HE WAS VERY ILL, WE LAUGHED AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE PAST AND I THANKED HIM FOR HIS GIANT CONTRIBUTION TO WHO I AM TODAY …. I REMEMBERED THAT EACH TIME WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE HE WAS ALWAYS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO ME AND SEEMED HAPPY WITH HOW MY LIFE WAS GOING …. I ALWAYS REMINDED HIM THAT GOD USED HIM TO “START” WHAT GOD IS NOW DOING IN MY LIFE.” 🙂 …. I SHALL MISS HIM BUT WE WILL ALL BE TOGETHER AGAIN SOON …. FOREVER!

MS. LILLIE WITH HAL SPENCER

I AM THANKFUL TO GOD, THAT FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS I HAVE “READ THRU THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR” …. WHAT A REAL BLESSING IT HAS BEEN! ACTUALLY, I HAVE USED THE SAME DEVOTIONAL BOOK …. IT TAKES ME THRU THE ENTIRE BIBLE …. THRU THE PROVERBS …. (READING 1 A DAY) …. AND A PSALM EACH DAY …. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE WORD OF GOD! …. PLEASE LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN GOD’S WORD! …. EACH DAY THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR YOU ARE ALIVE! …. HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN WE DO.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET’S REMEMBER, WE ARE HEARING FROM THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE …. THE BIBLE IS HIS VOICE …. IT IS HIS LOVE LETTER TO US …. WHICH DOES ALSO INCLUDE WARNINGS IF WE DO NOT OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS …. AND WHEN WE HIDE IN OUR HEARTS WHAT WE READ …. WE RECEIVE HIS WISDOM ….. MAY GOD GIVE EACH OF US A HUNGER FOR HIS WORD!

HEBREWS 4:12 ~ FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL, AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD, PIERCING EVEN TO THE DIVISION OF SOUL AND SPIRIT, AND OF JOINTS AND MARROW, AND IS A DISCERNER OF THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTS OF THE HEART.

ONE YEAR CLOSER TO THE RETURN OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST …. HAPPY NEW YEAR! …. THE NUMBER 8 MEANS “NEW BEGINNINGS” …. LET’S ALL EMBRACE THIS “FRESH START” …. OPPORTUNITY TO DO “NEW THINGS” …. TO RENEW OUR DEDICATION TO JESUS …. AS WE REMEMBER ALL THE THINGS WE KNOW HE HAS ASKED US TO DO …. AND SAY …. AS WE AWAKEN EACH DAY THIS YEAR …. LET IT BE ANOTHER “NEW BEGINNING” …. A “FRESH START” …. I HAVE HEARD THIS FOR YEARS …. AM NOT SURE WHO SAID IT …. “TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF OUR LIVES.”

ISAIAH 43:19 ~ FOR I’M GOING TO DO A BRAND-NEW THING. SEE, I HAVE ALREADY BEGUN! DON’T YOU SEE IT? I WILL MAKE A ROAD THROUGH THE WILDERNESS OF THE WORLD FOR MY PEOPLE TO GO HOME, AND CREATE RIVERS FOR THEM IN THE DESERT!

I EXPERIENCED SOMETHING WONDERFUL ON NEW YEARS EVE NITE …. I VISITED WEST ANGELES CHURCH IN LOS ANGELES …. PASTORED BY BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE …. IT IS HUGE! …. SEATS AT LEAST 5,000 …. AND WAS PACKED …. IT BEGAN AT 9PM …. WITH A TIME OF PRAYER …. MANY DIFFERENT FOLK CAME TO THE MICROPHONE TO PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR DIFFERENT THINGS, SUCH AS OUR PRESIDENT AND ALL THE POLITICIANS, (OUR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS), OUR FAMILIES, FIRST RESPONDERS, THE YOUTH, THE CALAMITIES (THE WILD FIRES, TORNADOES, HURRICANES, FLOODS) …. AS WELL AS MANY MORE NEEDS. WHAT A POWERFUL TIME OF PRAYER! …. MANY ON THEIR KNEES, CRYING OUT TO THE ONE WHO IS THE ONLY ANSWER FOR ALL THAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS WORLD …. WE KNOW HIM AS “JESUS” …. AND I DO WISH, THAT EVERYONE KNEW HIM. AS I SAT IN THAT ATMOSPHERE …. THE SERVICE WAS GLORIOUS …. THE HUGE CHOIR SINGING …. FANTASTIC MUSICIANS …. (ONE BEING A MULTI-TALENTED KEYBOARD PLAYER …. EDDIE BROWN) …. WOW! HE IS FANTASTIC …. OF COURSE, I ASKED FOR A PHOTO WITH HIM …. 🙂 …. IF YOU GO ON YOU-TUBE …. HE’S THERE! 🙂

Ms. Lillie with the talented Eddie Brown

THE MESSAGE WAS MOST ANOINTED AND THE CORPORATE PRAYER AT THE END OF THE SERVICE WAS LED BY BISHOP BLAKE …. HE ASKED GOD FOR DIRECTION IN EACH OF OUR LIVES AS WE ENTERED INTO 2018 …. IT WAS AWESOME! …. AT THE END OF THE SERVICE AT ABOUT 12:45 AM …. BISHOP BLAKE STOOD TO GREET THE FOLK ON ONE SIDE OF THE STAGE AND HIS DARLING WIFE, LADY MAE ON THE OTHER SIDE …. I WAS EXCITED TO GET A PHOTO WITH EACH OF THEM 🙂

Ms. Lillie with Bishop Charles BlakeMs. Lillie with Lady Mae Blake

FOR 47 YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A CONFERENCE IN SAN DIEGO SPONSORED BY MORRIS CERRULLO …. IT IS ALWAYS THE 2ND TUESDAY OF JANUARY FOR 5 DAYS, IT IS LIKE “HEAVEN ON EARTH” 🙂 …. THE BEST SINGERS AND SPEAKERS ARE THERE. BROTHER CERRULLO IS A TRUE WORLD EVANGELIST …. AND HAS TRAVELED FOR MANY YEARS BRINGING JESUS TO THE WORLD …. SOME YEARS AGO, I SANG IN HIS CONFERENCES AND CRUSADES …. AND I WAS SOOOO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SING THIS YEAR …. WHAT A CONFERENCE! ONE OF THE TREMENDOUS SPEAKER WAS THE SINGER/PREACHER MARVIN SAPP.

Ms. Lillie with Pastor Marvin Sapp

WHAT A BLESSING FOR ME TO ATTEND MY SISTERS 90TH B’DAY IN LAS VEGAS. TO MAKE IT EASIER ON EVERYONE, IT WAS HELD AT OLIVE GARDEN. WE HAD THE CHOICE OF 4 ENTREES AS WELL AS THE FAMOUS SALADS AND THE BREAD STIX (WHICH I DID NOT EAT EVEN ONE) 🙂 …. THE ROOM HELD 50 FOLK AND WAS PACKED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS …. SHE DID LOOK SOOO CUTE …. WEARING A TIARA …. 🙂 AS WE TALKED ON THE PHONE DURING THE WEEKS AND DAYS BEFORE …. SHE WAS VERY EXCITED AND WHEN THE DAY ARRIVED, SHE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT …. SO NOW, SHE IS EXACTLY 10 YEARS OLDER THAN ME. 🙂

Ms. Lillie’s Sister Nell’s 90th Birthday Party

I WAS ABLE TO SING AT A GREAT CHURCH THAT WEEKEND IN VEGAS WHERE I HAVE MINISTERED FOR MANY YEARS AND A SPECIAL FRIEND IS ON STAFF …. HE IS AN EXTREMELY TALENTED SINGER …. WANT TO BE BLESSED? …. GOOGLE LARRY WAYNE MORBITT SINGING “DOWN FROM HIM GLORY” …. WOW!

Ms. Lillie with Larry Wayne Morbitt

WHEN I MOVED TO HAWAII IN 1983 AS A MISSIONARY …. YEA RITE? …. (THAT IS WHAT FOLK WERE SAYING) …. BUT IT IS TRUE …. GOD GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN HAWAII FOR 10 YEARS …. AND WORK WITH A WONDERFUL MINISTRY CALLED THE WAIKIKI BEACH CHAPLAINCY …. WE CONDUCTED CHURCH SERVICES ON SUNDAY MORNINGS RITE ON THE BEACH …. ON THE SAND AT THE HAWAIIAN HILTON HOTEL …. WHAT A CHURCH SETTING 🙂 …. I DID LOVE BEING A SMALL PART OF THAT MINISTRY …. AND OF COURSE, I LOVED LIVING IN HAWAII …. TO ME THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PART OF GOD’S WORLD!

I DID MEET SO MANY DEAR FRIENDS, AND WE ARE STILL CONNECTED …. AS I HAVE VISITED THE ISLANDS FOR R/R ALMOST YEARLY SINCE I LEFT THERE …. I DO TRY TO STAY AT LEAST 3 WEEKS …. AND AM LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING THIS MAY …. WHAT I HAVE DONE IN THE PAST IS INTERESTING …. I MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO MEET FRIENDS A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK …. THIS IS HOW I DO IT AND IT DOES WORK SOOOO WELL …. I INVITE A FRIEND TO MEET ME AT THE RESTAURANT …. SAY AT 9AM …. I TELL THEM I HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AT 11AM …. WHEN THEY LEAVE, THE NEXT FRIEND ARRIVES AND WE SPEND 2 HOURS TOGETHER …. THEN I AM READY FOR MY LAST FRIEND TO ARRIVE AND I AM THERE ANOTHER 2 HOURS …. IT DOES WORK WELL …. I GET TO HAVE TIME WITH MY SPECIAL FRIENDS AS I STAY IN ONE PLACE …. AND YES, I DO TIP WISELY 🙂 …. YIPPEEEEE!

I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE DEAR FRIENDS COME SPEND 5 DAYS WITH ME AT MY NEW SENIOR LIVING HOME …. SHE HAD BEEN VISITING THE MAINLAND …. SO ENROUTE BACK TO THE ISLANDS, SHE STOPPED BY …. AND DID WE HAVE A GREAT TIME! …. DID MANY FUN THINGS …. BECAUSE I NOW HAVE ONLY A 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT …. SHE WAS ABLE TO STAY IN THE GUEST ROOM AVAILABLE TO ANY OF OUR GUESTS …. SO THAT DOES WORK WELL, AS WE EACH HAVE OUR “SPACE.” 🙂

Ms. Lillie with long-time Hawaii friend, Maile

WE WENT TO A VERY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING …. THE MAN WHO PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN OUR COUNTRY …. HE ASKED US TO SHOW LOVE WHEN THERE IS HATE! I AM GRATEFUL THAT GOD HAD A MAN HE COULD USE …. AND DID! IT WAS IN A LOVELY PARK …. LOTS OF FOLK IN ATTENDANCE …. A GREAT CHOIR SANG …. AND THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER WAS A DARLING YOUNG LADY NAMED KIMBERLY ANYADIKE …. WHAT A STORY! SHE IS KNOWN AS THE YOUNGEST BLACK WOMAN TO COMPLETE A FLIGHT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES …. FLYING FROM COAST TO COAST IN A SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA 172 …. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? …. SHE WAS THEN ONLY 15 YEARS OLD 🙂 …. AND BECAUSE YOU MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OLD …. SHE NEVER SOLO-ED …. DURING THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT SHE COMPLETED IN 2009, SHE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A SAFETY PILOT AS WELL AS A TUSKEGEE AIRMAN …. WHAT AN ENTOURAGE 🙂 …. SHE IS AN INCREDIBLE SPEAKER …. AND AS A CHRISTIAN …. SHE CHALLENGED EACH OF US TO “SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS.”

PHILIPPIANS 4:13 ~ FOR I CAN DO EVERYTHING GOD ASKS ME TO WITH THE HELP OF CHRIST WHO GIVES ME THE STRENGTH AND POWER.

Ms. Lillie with Kimberly( photo courtesy of Flamecolor Media)

I SPENT ANOTHER WEEK SINGING IN SAN DIEGO FOR A CONFERENCE …. I WAS VERY BLESSED AND ENCOURAGED …. GOD IS GOOD TO LET ME HEAR MANY WONDERFUL SPEAKERS AS I TRAVEL …. ALL VERY ANOINTED! HERE IS SOMETHING THAT WAS SHARED …. THAT AS WE CLOSE THE DOOR ON 2017 …. WE CAN LOOK BACK AND REALIZE HOW GOOD GOD HAS BEEN TO EACH OF US …. GOD’S COMPASSIONS AND MERCY HAS NEVER FAILED US …. RITE? HE DOES HAVE A PLAN FOR EACH OF US …. AND GOD’S LOVE WILL FOLLOW US INTO THIS NEW YEAR! IT IS TRUE THAT WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS …. BUT PRAISE GOD, WE DO KNOW THE ONE WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE …. AND WE ARE ALL “IN HIS HANDS.”

LAMENTATIONS 3: 23 – 25 ~ GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS; HIS LOVING-KINDNESS BEGINS AFRESH EACH DAY. MY SOUL CLAIMS THE LORD AS MY INHERITANCE; THEREFORE I WILL HOPE IN HIM. THE LORD IS WONDERFULLY GOOD TO THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIM, TO THOSE WHO SEEK FOR HIM.

WHAT A DYNAMIC CONCERT I ATTENDED LAST WEEK …. THEY ARE KNOWN AS THE GARY BONNER SINGERS …. ORGANIZED IN 1995 …. (GOOGLE THEM AND SEE WHEN THEY MIGHT BE IN YOUR AREA) …. YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY ENJOY THEM …. THEY HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PIANIST WITH 100 TALENTED SINGERS …. I LOVED HEARING THEM …. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY SANG A CAPELLA …. WOW! I WAS HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO GET A PHOTO WITH THE BONNERS. HE IS 80 YEARS….

Ms. Lillie with Dr. & Mrs. Gary Bonner

AS YOU ARE PREPARING A SCHEDULE FOR YOUR CHURCH, YOUR GROUP? …. PLEASE LET ME COME AND MINISTER. I LOVE TO SPEAK/SING FOR LADIES GROUPS …. SENIOR ADULTS …. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED AND YES, YOU CAN AFFORD ME! YOU CAN REACH ME AT 909-948-2448 …. WE CAN TALK ABOUT A GOOD TIME FOR ME TO COME. 🙂

I AM SOOO GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROCLAIM THE “GOOD NEWS” THRU WORD/SONG …. IT HAS BEEN OVER 40 YEARS SINCE I “HUNG UP” ON “MA BELL” 🙂 AND HAVE BEEN TRAVELING. GOD DOES KEEP MY VOICE STRONG …. AND HEARTFELT THANKS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE A VITAL PART OF THIS MINISTRY …. I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP …. WE ARE A POWERFUL TEAM FOR GOD! 🙂 THIS MINISTRY IS “GOOD GROUND” …. AND WHATEVER YOU GIVE WILL BE ADDED TO YOUR ACCOUNT IN GLORY PLUS YOU WILL RECEIVE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE RECEIPT HERE ON EARTH 🙂 …. YOU MAY CONTRIBUTE THRU PAYPAL, CREDIT CARD OR MAIL A CHECK TO PO BOX 994, RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91729 …. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

ON DR. KINGS’ BIRTHDAY, I RECEIVED A CALL TELLING ME THAT EDWIN HAWKINS HAD PASSED AWAY …. MY, WHAT A SURPRISE! …. WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE WHEN I WRITE NEXT TIME …. YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT I WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL EDWIN HAWKINS SINGERS WHEN WE RECORDED THE SONG “OH HAPPY DAY” AND IT BECAME THE NO. 1 HIT AROUND THE WORLD …. WELL, THEY REQUESTED THAT THE ORIGINAL GROUP WEAR BLACK AND SING FOR HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE …. I AM SOOO THANKFUL THAT I AM ABLE TO ATTEND….WHAT A GIFT GOD GAVE EDWIN AND HE USED IT TO “BLESS THE WORLD.”

I AM EXCITED TO ALL GOD HAS PLANNED FOR ME …. AND YOU IN 2018 …. AND I PRAY THAT YOU ARE ALSO …. AS HE HAS PROMISED TO GIVE US A FUTURE AND A HOPE …. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO NOT LOSE HOPE …. WILLIAM BARCLAY SAYS IT BEST …. “A MAN CAN FACE ANYTHING AS LONG AS HE HAS HOPE, FOR THEN HE IS NOT WALKING TO THE NITE, BUT TO THE DAWN” …. LET’S MARCH ON WITH OUR EYES ON OUR LEADER …. JESUS!

JEREMIAH 29:11 ~ FOR I KNOW THE THOUGHTS THAT I THINK TOWARD YOU, SAYS THE LORD, THOUGHTS OF PEACE AND NOT OF EVIL, TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? …. WELL, WHEN IT IS THE NAME SPOKEN BY THE ANGEL TO THE YOUNG HANDMAIDEN, MARY …. “YOU WILL BRING FORTH A SON AND CALL HIS NAME JESUS” …. IT IS A MATCHLESS NAME! …. (THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES) …. WE HAVE IN THAT NAME …. ONE WHO IS …. WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER AND THE PRINCE OF PEACE” …. HE IS ALSO KNOWN AS “JESUS, EMANUEL” WHICH MEANS “GOD WITH US.” THINK ABOUT THIS …. JESUS IS ON EACH SIDE OF US …. IS BEHIND US …. IN FRONT OF US …. LIVING INSIDE US AND PROMISES NEVER TO LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US …. JESUS WAS WILLING TO COME TO EARTH AS A TINY BABY TO BE THE “GIFT TO THE WORLD” FROM FATHER GOD! …. WHEN THE SHEPHERDS WHO WERE WATCHING THEIR SHEEP, HAD AN ANGELIC VISITATION …. THEY WERE TOLD THAT “THERE IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID …. A SAVIOR WHO IS CHRIST, THE MESSIAH, THE LORD” …. AND THE HEAVENLY HOST OF ANGELS PROCLAIMED …. “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST AND ON EARTH PEACE AND GOOD WILL TO ALL MEN” …. THE ANXIOUS SHEPHERDS MADE HASTE TO FIND THE BABY, I AM CERTAIN THEY WORSHIPED HIM …. AND AS THEY RETURNED TO THEIR SHEEP, THEY WERE PRAISING AND GLORIFYING GOD FOR THE THINGS THEY HAD HEARD AND SEEN.

JOHN 3:16 ~ FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.

I HAD A VERY BUSY DECEMBER …. BECAUSE THIS TIME LAST YEAR, I WAS IN A CAST WITH A BROKEN ANKLE …. AND HAD TO CANCEL EVERYTHING …. SO, I WAS RE-BOOKED THIS YEAR FOR MANY OF THOSE THINGS …. PLUS SOME WERE ADDED 🙂 …. AND I AM THANKFUL THAT GOD HEALED THOSE ANKLE BONES AND I AM FINE NOW …. PRAISE GOD!

I LOVE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON! …. I GO TO THE MALL ONLY ONE TIME DURING THE SEASON …. TO SEE DECORATIONS …. AND YES, TO HEAR THOSE TIMELESS CAROLS BEING PLAYED …. I LOVE IT! 🙂 BUT, IT DOES AMAZE ME HOW FOLK GET SOOOO CARRIED AWAY WITH BUYING CHRISTMAS GIFTS, ETC. …. HERE IS THE QUESTION I HAVE BEEN ASKING NOW FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS …. ABOUT THOSE CHRISTMAS GIFTS …. “WHO’S BIRTHDAY DAY IS IT ANYWAY? 🙂 …. FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS NOW, I HAVE GIVEN NO CHRISTMAS PRESENTS …. I LOVE TO HONOR FOLK AND CELEBRATE THEIR BIRTHDAYS …. I WANT TO FOCUS ON JESUS DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR …. (THAT HE ALONE IS THE PERFECT GIFT) …. CAUSE I KEEP SAYING YEAR AFTER YEAR THAT “JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.” 🙂

2 CORINTHIANS 9:15 ~ THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS INDESCRIBABLE GIFT.

IT IS ALWAYS EXCITING FOR ME TO SPEAK/SING FOR LADIES FUNCTIONS …. ONE OF THE FIRST ONES I WENT TO IN DECEMBER …. WAS A VICTORIAN TEA …. AND YOU WHO HAVE FOLLOWED ME THRU THE YEARS KNOW I DO LOVE TEA PARTIES 🙂 …. WHEN I THINK OF TEA …. I, OF COURSE AUTOMATICALLY THINK OF THE BRITISH AND THE ROYAL FAMILY …. AND THEN OF COURSE, THE HATS THEY SEEM TO ALWAYS WEAR …. NOW WITH PRINCESS KATE AND HER FACINATOR HATS …. WOW! SO I WORE ONE FOR THIS FUNCTION …. IT WAS GIVEN TO ME …. AND I LOVE WEARING IT.

I DID ANOTHER TEA …. AND WAS SOOO GLAD THAT MY WEBMASTER FOR SO MANY YEARS WAS ABLE TO COME …. SHE IS A REAL CUTIE 🙂

MS. LILLIE AND MS. PEGGY

WANTA LAFF? …. WELL, HERE IT IS 🙂 …. I POSTED ABOVE A PHOTO OF WHAT I WORE THIS WEEK AS I SPOKE/SANG FOR A TEA …. NOW …. HERE IS ANOTHER PHOTO ….

IT IS SOMETHING ELSE …. AND I DO MEAN SOMETHING ELSE 🙂 …. I RECEIVED THIS FROM A DEAR FRIEND IN HAWAII …. (REMEMBER, I LIVED THERE 10 YEARS …. WORKING WITH THE WAIKIKI BEACH CHAPLAINCY …. HELPING WITH SERVICES ON THE BEACH EACH SUNDAY MORNING …. IMAGINE ME DOING THE HULA? …. WELL, I DID! 🙂 …. WHEN I GOT THIS PICTURE IN THE MAIL …. I BURST OUT LAFFING …. CALLED HER AND ASKED ABOUT IT …. THIS IS WHAT SHE SAID …. “MY HUSBAND AND OUR 2 LITTLE GIRLS WENT TO THE SHERATON WAIKIKI ON CHRISTMAS EVE FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL SERVICE SPONSORED BY THE CHAPLAINCY …. WE WERE EXCITED TO HEAR YOU SING …. AND WHEN YOU WALKED ON STAGE …. I TURNED TO MY HUSBAND AND SAID …. “MS LILLIE CAN WEAR ANYTHING” 🙂 …. WELL, I HAVE BEEN RACKING MY BRAIN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO CONVINCED ME AND EVEN HELPED ME DRESS? I NEED TO FIND HER! ….. HOW COULD I HAVE PINNED IT ON MY OWN SHOULDER? …. OH, I MUST HAVE HAD HELP 🙂 …. NOTICE THE STREAMERS DOWN THE BACK. WOW! …. THAT “NEW CAR GIFT WRAP” MUST HAVE COST ME QUITE A LOT …. OH WELL, ALL THIS WAS DECEMBER 24, 1988 …. WAS THAT THE STYLE THEN? HA HA HA HA…

THERE IS A SENIOR CENTER FOR THE CITY RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN MY AREA …. AND I WAS ABLE TO GIVE A CHRISTMAS PROGRAM THERE …. THEIR GOODIES WERE FROM DUNKIN’ DONUTS …. SO THEY SENT THEIR MASCOT …. OF COURSE I HAD TO GET A PHOTO WITH HIM …. OR HER! 🙂

I AM GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MINISTER OCCASIONALLY TO A DIFFERENT CROWD …. AS MANY THERE DIDN’T ACTUALLY PROFESS TO HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST …. AND I KNOW THAT DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IS A GREAT TIME FOR US TO PLANT SEEDS INTO HEARTS ABOUT WHO JESUS IS …. WE MUST “GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN THAT JESUS CHRIST IS BORN.” 🙂

JOHN 9:4 ~ AS LONG AS IT IS DAY, WE MUST DO THE WORKS OF HIM WHO SENT ME. NIGHT IS COMING, WHEN NO ONE CAN WORK.

THERE WAS A GREAT CHRISTMAS DINNER HERE AT MY NEW “HOME” …. WE ARE ASKED TO INVITE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO SHARE A MEAL WITH US …. I INVITED MY LONGTIME FRIEND, CHARLOTTE TO COME …. I MET HER AND HUSBAND JOHNNY WHEN I LIVED IN HAWAII …. I WAS ON THE BEACH AS PART OF THE WAIKIKI BEACH CHAPLAINCY …. THEY WERE ENJOYING THE SERVICE THAT DAY ON THE BEACH LOOKING OUT AT THE OCEAN (BUT WHO WOULDN’T?) 🙂 …. WE HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR AT LEAST 35 YEARS …. I LEARNED THAT SHE LIVES RITE DOWN THE STREET FROM ME NOW …. HER DEAR HUSBAND RECENTLY WENT TO BE WITH JESUS AFTER 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE …. SO I TRY TO STAY IN TOUCH …. SHE DOES PLAY BEAUTIFUL PIANO.

MS. LILLIE AND MS. CHARLOTTE

I WAS INVITED ON CHRISTMAS DAY TO A HOME WITH FRIENDS, PASTOR GARY AND CAROLYN ARE MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS …. HE IS RESIDENT PASTOR/CHAPLAIN OF OUR RETIREMENT CENTER. THEY INVITED ME TO COME ALONG WITH THEM TO THEIR DAUGHTER’S HOUSE FOR DINNER 🙂 WOW! IT WAS SUCH A SPECIAL TIME …. I WAS THE ONLY OUTSIDER …. AND I DO CHERISH THAT KIND GESTURE …. AS WE PRAYED TOGETHER, WE THANKED GOD FOR THE FREEDOM TO CELEBRATE THE DAY DESIGNATED AS “THE BIRTHDAY OF THE KING.”

THE LETTER “8” MEANS “NEW BEGINNINGS” …. SO I AM VERY EXCITED TO HAVE GOD DO SOMETHING NEW IN MY LIFE …. I HAVE TOLD HIM “WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DO” IS FINE WITH ME. 🙂 I PRAY THAT YOU ARE SAYING THE SAME THING 🙂 …. AS I AM NEARING MY 80TH B’DAY, I WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT HE WANTS ME TO DO …. BE WHERE HE WANTS ME TO BE …. AND SAY WHAT HE WANTS ME TO SAY …. SO I WILL “FINISH WELL” …. AND WILL HEAR HIM SAY “WELL DONE.”

MATTHEW 25:21 ~ HIS MASTER REPLIED, ‘WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT! YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL………

EACH YEAR THERE IS A CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON FOR THE SENIOR ADULTS AT MY CHURCH …. (THERE ARE MORE THAN 2200 SENIORS IN THE CHURCH) WHAT A FUN TIME OF FELLOWSHIP AND FOOD …. THERE WERE AT LEAST 200 HUNDRED GIFT CARDS PLUS LOTS OF BEAUTIFULLY WRAPPED GIFTS GIVEN AWAY …. WHAT A DAY! MY PASTOR IS SUCH A BLESSING …. A REAL MAN OF GOD!

PASTORS DIEGO AND CINDY

I AM BUSILY WORKING ON MY 2018 CALENDAR …. SO WHEN YOU BEGIN TO PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE …. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO COME AND MINISTER …. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED AND YES, YOU CAN AFFORD ME! 🙂 …. GOD WILL GIVE US A GREAT SERVICE! PLEASE CALL ME …. MY PHONE # IS 909-948-2448 …. WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT! 🙂

I AM PRAYING FOR YOU, MY VALUED FRIENDS AND PARTNERS. THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS FOR ME …. SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR ME FOR YEARS AS WELL AS GIVING TO THE MINISTRY GOD HAS CALLED ME TO …. (I HAVE CERTAINLY FELT THOSE PRAYERS) ….THANKS! IF GOD PROMPTS YOU TO INVEST IN THIS MINISTRY …. IT IS “GOOD GROUND” 🙂 …. AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED HERE ON EARTH WITH A TAX DEDUCTIBLE RECEIPT AND OF COURSE, A REWARD IN HEAVEN. IT HAS BEEN 40 YEARS SINCE I WAS GIVEN THIS “ASSIGNMENT” BY GOD! WHAT A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY HE GAVE ME …. AND HE HAS TAKEN CARE OF ME …. AS HE PROMISED.

MATTHEW 6:26 ~ LOOK AT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR; THEY DO NOT SOW OR REAP OR STORE AWAY IN BARNS, AND YET YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM. ARE YOU NOT MUCH MORE VALUABLE THAN THEY?

PERHAPS YOU ARE FACING SOMETHING YOU HAVE NEVER FACED …. MAYBE THERE ARE DEMANDS BEING PLACED ON YOU …. AND YOU ARE WONDERING WHEN GOD IS GOING TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE SITUATION? WE ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE LIVING IN DIFFICULT TIMES …. AND GOD KNOWS THAT! …. HE IS WANTING TO GIVE US HIS PEACE …. IN THE MIDST OF WHATEVER STORM WE ARE GOING THRU …. IT WILL BE A PEACE UNLIKE THE PEACE THE WORLD GIVES …. WE WILL KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE …. AS HE RELEASES US FROM FEAR THAT MIGHT EASILY CREEP INTO OUR HEARTS …. YES, WE MUST NOT BE AFRAID!

JOHN 14:27 ~ PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU; MY PEACE I GIVE YOU. I DO NOT GIVE TO YOU AS THE WORLD GIVES. DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED AND DO NOT BE AFRAID.